Sports bra with collarbone protective padding

Abstract

A protective shirt includes a chest portion made of garment material including a lining on a side of the chest portion that is closest to a wearer of the protective shirt. At least one layer of neoprene is securely fastened to the lining. The at least one layer of neoprene extends from a left side of the chest portion to a right side of the chest portion, and is located at an area of the chest portion nearest to a clavicle of a wearer of the protective shirt. The at least one layer of neoprene includes a plurality of spaced-apart segments of the at least one layer of neoprene. The protective shirt includes a neoprene neck pad. Embodiments of the protective shirt include cap-sleeve, short sleeve, long sleeve, sleeveless and tank top versions. In one embodiment, the garment material includes nylon and spandex.

The invention claimed is: 
     
       1. A protective sports bra comprising:
 a sports bra made of garment material, the sports bra having a center portion, two sleeve opening portions, a neck portion, an inner surface and an outer surface, wherein a section of a front portion of the sports bra defines a clavicle/collarbone area disposed beneath the neck portion; and 
 at least one trapezoidal shaped cushioning pad with an upper side, a lower side, a left side, and a right side disposed between the outer surface and the inner surface of the sports bra, and when the sports bra is being worn by a user the at least one trapezoidal shaped cushioning pad is formed
 to overlay the clavicle/collarbone area of the user, 
 with the lower side above a breast area of the user, and 
 with the left side and the right side extend laterally from a center point between an area defined by a first rib of the user and an area defined by a third rib of the user; 
 
 wherein the at least one trapezoidal shaped cushioning pad symmetrically extends from the center point below a top of the sports bra to a left side of the sports bra and symmetrically extending from the center point below the top of the sports bra to a right side of the sports bra, defining an arc from a distal end of a left clavicle to the distal end of a right clavicle when worn by the user, and wherein the at least one trapezoidal shaped cushioning pad and the garment material at the clavicle/collarbone area form a clavicle/collarbone guard, and wherein the upper side of the at least one trapezoidal shaped cushioning pad includes an upper portion at the distal end of a right clavicle and the upper portion at the distal end of a left clavicle extends above the center point. 
 
     
     
       2. The protective sports bra of  claim 1 , wherein at least one of the at least one trapezoidal shaped cushioning pad is thicker in a depth extending along a direction perpendicular to the front portion of the sports bra near the center portion of the sports bra and thinner in the depth moving from the center portion towards the two sleeve opening portions of the sports bra, wherein a thickness of the at least one trapezoidal shaped cushioning pad is greater than a thickness of the garment material. 
     
     
       3. The protective sports bra of  claim 1 , wherein the at least one trapezoidal shaped cushioning pad is one of synthetic rubber, neoprene, plastic or a combination thereof. 
     
     
       4. The protective sports bra of  claim 1 , wherein the at least one trapezoidal shaped cushioning pad is fastened to the inner surface. 
     
     
       5. The protective sports bra of  claim 4 , wherein the at least one trapezoidal shaped cushioning pad is releasably, securely fastened to the inner surface by one of a hook and loop fastener and adhesive. 
     
     
       6. The protective sports bra of  claim 4 , wherein the at least one trapezoidal shaped cushioning pad is securely fastened to the inner surface by stitching. 
     
     
       7. The protective sports bra of  claim 4 , including an inner pocket on the inner surface at the clavicle/collarbone area, wherein the at least one trapezoidal shaped cushioning pad is releasably, securely fastened within the inner pocket. 
     
     
       8. The protective sports bra of  claim 7 , wherein the inner pocket is made of garment material. 
     
     
       9. The protective sports bra of  claim 1 , wherein the sports bra is a tank top. 
     
     
       10. The protective sports bra of  claim 1 , wherein the sports bra is a sleeveless sports bra. 
     
     
       11. The protective sports bra of  claim 1 , wherein the garment material is made of one of, or both, nylon and spandex. 
     
     
       12. The protective sports bra of  claim 1 , wherein the garment material is a sports bra. 
     
     
       13. A protective sports bra, comprising:
 a sports bra with a chest portion comprising garment material and including a center portion, two sleeve opening portions, a neck portion, and a lining on a side of the chest portion that is closest to a wearer of the sports bra; 
 at least one trapezoidal shaped cushioning pad with an upper side, a lower side, a left side, a right side, and a depth, the at least one trapezoidal shaped cushioning pad disposed on the lining, and when the sports bra is being worn by a user the at least one trapezoidal shaped cushioning pad is formed
 to overlay a clavicle/collarbone area of the user, 
 with the lower side above a breast area of the user with a length of D 2 , and 
 with the left side and the right side each with a length of D 1 , the left side and the right side extending laterally from a center point of D 2 , and D 2  is approximately twice the length of D 1 ; 
 
 the at least one trapezoidal shaped cushioning pad formed thicker in the depth extending along a direction perpendicular to a front portion of the sports bra near the center portion of the sports bra and thinner moving from the center portion towards the two sleeve opening portions, the at least one trapezoidal shaped cushioning pad having a thickness greater than a thickness of the garment material; and 
 a back portion comprising the garment material, wherein the back portion is stitched to the chest portion to form the sports bra, 
 wherein the at least one trapezoidal shaped cushioning pad has a symmetrical shape and is securely fastened to the lining at a location such that the at least one trapezoidal shaped cushioning pad symmetrically extends from a center point to the left side of the chest portion and the right side of the chest portion, defining an arc from a distal end of a left clavicle to the distal end of a right clavicle when worn by the wearer of the sports bra.